ESTABLISHING DESIGN CONCEPT FOR A SELF-ACTIVATED MODULAR FLOOD BARRIER SYSTEM

Abstract

Flooding poses a significant global challenge, resulting in considerable harm to urban infrastructure, property, and human lives. Tackling this issue necessitates the creation of an effective flood barrier system, particularly in urban areas vulnerable to flash floods. This research presents a self-activating modular flood barrier system designed to automatically respond to increases in water levels. The product's development was guided by essential design criteria, which included automatic activation, modularity, stability, adaptability, and cost-effectiveness. A systematic framework was employed to create and assess four design concepts through a weighted scoring matrix that evaluated 12 critical factors. Among the proposed designs, Design D was identified as the most efficient, exhibiting exceptional performance across all established criteria, with notable strengths in flood direction management, durability, and scalability. Enhancements were made to tackle issues such as stability under high water pressure and user-friendliness. The final design integrated several innovative elements, including floating panels for automatic activation, effective water intake channels, and anchoring systems to improve stability. In summary, this study marks a significant progression in flood mitigation technology, offering practical and scalable solutions aimed at safeguarding urban communities from the severe consequences of flooding, thereby promoting both well-being and environmental sustainability.